chose to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Acho was projected to be a second or third round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the seventh best outside linebacker in the draft by DraftScout.com. Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals selected Acho in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Acho was the 12th defensive end drafted in 2011. 2011 On July 29, 2011, the Arizona Cardinals signed Acho to a four-year, $2.51 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $474,428. Throughout training camp, Acho competed to be a starting outside linebacker against Clark Haggans and O'Brien Schofield. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Acho a backup outside linebacker to begin the regular season, behind Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, and O'Brien Schofield. He made his professional regular season debut in the Arizona Cardinals' season-opener against the Carolina Panthers and made his first career regular season tackle in their 28–21 victory. On October 23, 2011, Acho recorded two solo tackles and made his first career sack during a 32–20 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Acho sacked Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a five-yard loss in the fourth quarter. On October 30, 2011, Acho earned his first career start and recorded five combined tackles, a sack, and forced the first fumble of his career during a 30–27 loss at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. Acho forced a fumble while sacking quarterback Joe Flacco for a ten-yard loss in the third quarter. Acho remained the starting outside linebacker for the last ten games of the season after Joey Porter was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury. In Week 10, he collected a season-high six solo tackles during a 21–17 win at the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished his rookie season in 2011 with 40 combined tackles (35 solo), seven sacks, two pass deflections, and four forced fumbles in 16 games and ten starts. Acho's seven sacks are the second most ever by a Cardinals rookie, trailing Simeon Rice’s 12.5 in 1996. 2012 During training camp, Acho competed to retain his role as a starting outside linebacker against O'Brien Schofield and Clark Haggans. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Acho and O'Brien Schofield the starting outside linebackers to begin the regular season, along with inside linebackers Daryl Washington